Non-rotating roller tappet



Jan. 31, 1967 ISKENDERIAN NON-ROTATING ROLLER TAPPET 2 Sheets-Sheet i Filed June 21, 1966 INVENTOR fc/ward fskenoer/an. BY W Aye/7) Jan. 31, 1967 E. ISKENDERIAN NON-ROTATING ROLLER TAPPET 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 21, L966 INVENTOR. [Jan/*0 [Siam/anon.

United States Patent 3,301,241 NON-ROTATING ROLLER TAPPET Edward Iskenderian, 5210 Holt Ave.,

' Los Angeles, Calif. 90056 Filed June 21, 1966, Ser. No. 560,965 7 Claims. (Cl. 12390) The present invention relates to valve actuating components employed in internal combustion engines and more particularly to preventing rotation of roller tappets in these engines. The prior art methods are illustrated in Patents Nos. 1,802,330, 2,846,988, 3,101,077, 3,108,- 580, 3,139,076, and 3,180,328, and for the most part restrain the tappets from rotation by a mechanism which works on two adjacent roller tappets. Generally, the necessary parts and the work required to secure the adjacent roller tappets from rotation is expensive and requires major overhaul and rework of engine.

The present invention prevents the rotation of the roller tappets by the valve pushrods which are keyed to the roller tappets and non-rotatively guided by means on the cylinder head of such engines. Thus the present invention allows the installation and the service of the rotation restraining devices by the simple removal of the valve cover.

An object of this invention is to provide a simple method of preventing roller tappet rotation which requires no additional rework or machining of engine.

Another object of this invention is to provide a valve pushrod which prevents rotation of the roller tappets.

Another object of this invention is to prevent the rotation of roller tappets by the valve pushrods [which can be installed quickly with ordinary tools.

Another object of this invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive valve pushrod that prevents the rotation of the roller tappet and permits misalignment between the valve pushrod and roller tappet.

Another object of this invention is to provide means to install non-rotatable roller tappets in which it is impossible to misalign the roller tappets with the cams upon which the tappets are actuated.

Further objects and advantages may be brought out in the following part of the specification and drawings wherein the preferred embodiment of the invention is described for the purpose of making a complete disclosure without intending, however, to limit the scope of the invention defined by the appended claims. 7

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view through an internal combustion engine.

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along lines 22 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged sectional view through a roller tappet of the engine.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view through a roller tappet of the engine showing the pushrod.

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view through -a roller tappet showing an embodiment of the invention.

FIGURE 6 is a top view of the pushrod guide plate showing alternate pushrod.

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged bottom end view of the valve pushrod shown in FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged bottom end view of the valve pushrod shown in FIGURE 9.

FIGURE 9 is a partial sectional view of the roller tappet showing an embodiment of this invention.

Referring now in detail to the drawings there is shown an internal combustion engine of the conventional overhead valve type including a cylinder block 10 having a cylinder 11. A piston 12 is partially shown in cylinder 13. Slideably guided for axial reciprocation in the bore 14 of the cylinder head is the stem 15 of poppet valve "ice 16, the upper end 17 of which projects above the cylinder head. The usual valve return spring is shown at 25. A cam 18 is shown whose shaft 19 is rotatively driven in any desired manner (not shown) to cyclically lift the roller tappet 20 and the valve pushrod 21. Operatively connectingthe valve pushrod and poppet valve 1 6 is a valve rocker 22 whose ends 23-24 overlie and .rest on the upper ends of the valve pushrod 21 and the. poppet valve end 17. Intermediate the valve pushrod ends and the valve stem end is a pivotal stud'2'6 upon which .the rocker is pivoted. The end 23 of the valve rocker 22 is spherically dished to socketably receive the pushrod upper end 27 in bearing relationship.

The upper end 27 of the pushrod 21 is spherically formed. Y

Adjacent the upper end the pushrod is provided with rotation preventing means. In FIGURE 1 and FIGURE 4 a hexagonal form 28 is incorporated in the upper and lower end of pushrod 21. The flats of each are in an aligned relationship. A guide plate 29 is attached to the cylinder head 11 by conventional methods such as being held by existing cylinder head screws 30. Guide slots 31 as shown in FIGURE 2 are provided which permit the valve pushrods to reciprocate but prevent rotation of the pushrods therein. Holes 57 are provided in said guide plate for the .pivot studs 26. A valve cover 56 encloses the valve mechanism.

In FIGURE 3 the non-rotating connection between the pushrod 21 and the roller tappet 20 is shown. A guide socket 32 is provided with an opening 33 which closely fits the hexagon guide 28 on the lower end of the valve pushrod 21. The socket 32 is fastened to the roller tappet housing 34 with a rivet 3 5. The valve pushrod 21 has spherical shaped ends 37 which cooperate with a floating spherical socket 36 supported --by shoulder 38. Oil hole 339 communicates with the hollow pushrod 21 so that lubricating oil under pressure from oil hole 40 can be circulated to the rocker arm area. The oil hole 40 in the roller tappet 20 communicates with the normal engine pressure lubrication system. It ,is to be. noted that center of the radius R for the spherical end 37 of the valve pushrod is on the medium line of the hexagonal guide to provide minimum fit with the guide slot 31. The location of the end radius permits the pushrod to be installed in engines wherein the valve pushrod is positioned oris actuated over an angle as much as 15%. Since the socket 36 is provided with a lateral loose fit-it allows the socket 36 to shift laterally to accommodate any necessary angularity between the axis of the valve pushrod and the axis of the roller tap-pet. The head of the rivet 35 serves to indicate proper installation of roller ta-ppets when all rivet headsare visible from one side of the valve installation.

In FIGURES 5 and 9 another form oft-he invention is shown. The upper end of the valve pushrod 42 is spherical. The upper end of the cylindrical hollow pushrod 42 has been fiatted at 41 on opposite sides to be slideably guided by guide plate 29 as shown in FIGURE .6. The lower end of valve pushrod 42 is provided with a spherical end 43- from which is depended a rectangular protrusion 44. The protrusion 44 fits into the spherical socket 45 which is provided with a rectangular socket hole 46. The rectangular socket hole is longitudinally aligned wit-h the roller 47 of the roller tappet 20. The upper flatted portion of the valve pushrod is longitudinally aligned with the rectangular protrusion 44. Oil holes 4 9 are provided at each end of the pushrod 42. The oil hole 40' in the roller tappet accepts oil from the regular engine oil lpressure system to lubricate the roller tappet, the lower valve pushrod connection and the upper pushrod spherical portion 48. The spherical socket 45 is non-rotatively assemb-led in the roller tappet body 34, for example, by a press fit.

In FIGURES 8 and 9 another form of the invention is shown. The lower end of the valve pushrod 51 is provided with a spherical end fitting 52. A slot 53 is milled into the spherical end 52. A spherical socket 54 is provided with a pin 55 which keys the slot 53 and prevents rotation of the valve pushrod. The upper end not shown is provided with rotation preventing means such as shown in FIGURES 4, 5, 2, and 6. The pin 55 is positioned at the radius center of the lower spherical end 52 and in line with flattedupper guide -means on the valve pushrod.

In the embodiment shown in FIGURES .5 and 9 it is impossible to install the guided valve pushrod and the roller tappet in a non-aligned position with the valve cam on the camshaft of the engine. This is so because the socket in the roller tappet, the guide means on the lower end of the valve pushrod, the upper guide means on the pushrod, and the guide plate slot installed on the cylinder head are all in line with the tappet roller and the cam'lobe on the camshaft.

While this invention has been described in connection with certain specific embodiments, the principle involved is susceptible-of numerous mod-ifiications which could be made without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In an internal combustion engine including a camshaft having cam surfaces, roller tappets riding on said cam surfaces to reciprocate valve pushrods, rocker arms and overhead valves, in a cylinder head, constraining means for preventing rotation of said valve pushrods and said roller tappets, each constraining means comprising:

a rigid flat plate attached to said cylinder head,

said plate in the area of said valve pushrod having a slotted opening to guidably receive said push- 7 a valve pushrod,

said valve pushrod having upper fiatted guide means to slideably engage said slotted openings;.- the lower end of said valve pushrod being provided with lower fiatted guide means aligned with said upper guide means;

a roller tappet,

said roller tappet h aving aunitary valve pushrod socket provided with opposed flats to receive said lower guide means to prevent lateral rotation of said roller tappet on said cam surfaces.

2. Combination as defined in cl-aimlin which the lower guide means is a hexagonal shape and said .socketin said roller tappet has a hexagonal opening to .receivesaid lower guide means. v

3. Combination as defined by claim 1 in which the upper guide means and the lower guide means are hexagonal in shape and the socket opening in said roller tappet is hexagonal in shape, the hats of which are in aligned relationship witheach other and normal to the axis of the roller on said roller tappet. v

4. In an internal-combustion engine includinga calmshaft having cam surfaces, roller tappets riding on said cam surfaces .to' reciprocate valve pushrods, rocker arms and overhead valves, in a cylinder head, constraining means for preventing rotation of said valve pushrods and said roller tappets, each constraining means comprising:

a rigid flat guide plate attached to said cylinder head,

said guide plate in the area of said valve pushrod having a slotted opening to receive said valve pushrod; 'a tubular valve pushrod, said valve pushrod having an upper spherical en "and having tliatted guide surfaces adjacent said spherical end to slideably engage said slotted opening, the lower end of said valve pushrod being provided with a spherical end fitting from which depends a rectangular protrusion, the lon- .4 gitudinal flats of which are aligned with said flatted guide surfaces;

a roller tappet,

said roller tappet having a cam engaging roller,

said roller tappet having a unitary concave spherical socket to receive said lower spherical end fitting, said socket being provided with a rectangular opening to receive said'rectangular protrusion,said rectangular opening being longitudinally aligned with said roller.

5. In an internal combustion engine including a camshaft having cam surfaces, roller tappets riding on said cam surfaces to reciprocate valve pushrods, rocker arms and overhead valves, in a cylinder head, constraining means for preventing rotation of said valve pushrods and said roller tappets, each constraining means comprising:

a rigid flat guide plate attached to said cylinder head,

said guide plate in the area of said valvepushrod having a slotted opening to receive said valve pushrod;

a tubular valve pushrod,

said valve pushrod having an upper spherical end and having flatted guide surfaces adjacent said spherical end to slideably engage said slotted opening, the lower end of said valve pushrod being provided with a spherical end fitting, said spherical end fitting having a key slot longitudinally aligned with said fiatted guide surfaces;

.a roller tappet,

said roller tappet having a cam engaging roller, said roller tappet having a spherical socket to receive said spherical end fitting, a pin through said socket and said roller tappet to engage said slot, said pin being :installed in a line normal to the axis of saidrollerand on the center line of said spherical end fitting and said spherical socket.

6. In an internal combustion engine including a camshaft having cam surfaces, roller tappets riding on said cam surfaces to reciprocate valve pushrods, rocker arms and overhead valves, in a cylinder head, constraining means for preventing rotation ofsaid valve pushrods and said roller tappets, each constraining means comprising:

a rigid guide plate attached to said cylinder head,

said plate in thearea of said valve pushrod having a slotted opening to guidably receive said pushrod;

a tubular valve pushrod,

said valve pushrod having an upper spherical end fitting which is provided with hexagonal guide means to slideably engage said slotted opening in said guide plate, the lower end of said pushrod having a spherical end fitting provided with a narrow hexagonal guide means, the center of which is located on the center line of the radius of said spherical end, the flats of said lower hexagonal guide means being aligned with the fiats of said upper hexagonal guidemeans;

a roller tappet having a cam engaging roller,

said roller tappet having a unitary hexagonal socket -to receive said lower hexagonal guide means, a pair of opposite flats of said hexagonal socket being aligned normal to the axis of said roller so that said roller tappet may be actuated in an aligned relationship with said cam surfaces, said roller tappet having a spherical socket to receive said valve pushrod spherical end.

7. In an internal combustion engine including a camshaft having cam surfaces, roller tappets riding on said oam surfaces to reciprocate valve pushrods, rocker arms and overhead valves, in a cylinder head, constraining means .for preventing rotation of said valve pushrods and said roller tappets, each constraining means comprising:

a rigid guide plate attached to said cylinder head,

5 6 said plate in the area of said valve pushrod having said roller tappet having a spherical socket to a slotted opening to guidably receive said receive said valve pushrod spherical end, said pushrod; spherical socket being provided with a lateral a tubular valve pushrod, loose fit to allow said socket to shift laterally said valve pushrod having an upper spherical end 5 to accommodate any necessary angularity befitting which is provided with hexagonal guide tween the axis of the valve pushrod and the axis means to slideably engage said slotted opening of the roller tappet. in said guide plate, the lower end of said pushrod having a spherical end fitting provided with References Cited y the Examiner a 1naiilrowlhexflgjonalflgluide itnesins, thfetgenteg of 10 UNITED STATES PATENTS w 1c 15 ocae on ecen er me o era ms of said spherical end, the flats of said lower gamaby et 129 hexagonal guide means being aligned With th 3/1953 g I 123 g flats of said upper hexagonal guide means; 5 5/1956 3? er a roller tappet having a cam engaging roller, 15 5 12/1960 i gg said roller tappet having a unitary hexagonal socket 4/1963 e 173 9O to receive said lower hexagonal guide means, a 3089472 H963 3322 5 pair of opposite flats of said hexagonal socket being aligned normal to the axis of said roller F 4 so that said roller tappet may be actuated in 20 MARK NEWMAN P'lmmy Examine" an aligned relationship with said cam surfaces, SMITH, Assistant n 

1. IN AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE INCLUDING A CAMSHAFT HAVING CAM SURFACES, ROLLER TAPPETS RIDING ON SAID CAM SURFACES TO RECIPROCATE VALVE PUSHRODS, ROCKER ARMS AND OVERHEAD VALVES, IN A CYLINDER HEAD, CONSTRAINING MEANS FOR PREVENTING ROTATION OF SAID VALVE PUSHRODS AND SAID ROLLER TAPPETS, EACH CONSTRAINING MEANS COMPRISING: A RIGID FLAT PLATE ATTACHED TO SAID CYLINDER HEAD, SAID PLATE IN THE AREA OF SAID VALVE PUSHROD HAVING A SLOTTED OPENING TO GUIDABLY RECEIVE SAID PUSHROD; A VALVE PUSHROD, SAID VALVE PUSHROD HAVING UPPER FLATTED GUIDE MEANS TO SLIDEABLY ENGAGE SAID SLOTTED OPENINGS; THE LOWER END OF SAID VALVE PUSHROD BEING PROVIDED WITH LOWER FLATTED GUIDE MEANS ALIGNED WITH SAID UPPER GUIDE MEANS; A ROLLER TAPPET, SAID ROLLER TAPPET HAVING A UNITARY VALVE PUSHROD SOCKET PROVIDED WITH OPPOSED FLATS TO RECEIVE SAID LOWER GUIDE MEANS TO PREVENT LATERAL ROTATION OF SAID ROLLER TAPPET ON SAID CAM SURFACES. 